Words: Staff Writers
Image: Getty Images

Olympic FC have swooped on former Socceroo and Brisbane Roar star Shane Stefanutto – announcing the veteran has joined the club until the end of the 2017 season.

The 36-year-old left fullback becomes the latest signing for Olympic coach Terry Kirkham as he continues to put his stamp on the squad he inherited from former coach Jim Bellas in late April.

He will join the squad in coming weeks with the club confirming they intend to include him as a marquee player under the competition’s Player Points System, which still requires formal approval from Football Queensland.

Stefanutto made 134 Hyundai A-League appearances for Brisbane Roar since 2010 – winning two Premierships and three Championships with the club – in addition to representing in the AFC Asian Champions League.

He also made three appearances for the Caltex Socceroos during a five year stint in Norway’s Tippeligaen with Lyn and Lillestrom, before returning to Australia in 2009.

Stefanutto said despite ongoing injury concerns in recent seasons suggesting his playing days may be coming to a close, he still has the desire to test himself in competitive football.

“When I retired from the Roar I was contemplating what my next step would be, and Terry got intact with me and he outlined his plans for the future,” Stefanutto explained.

“Straight away it excited me and I wanted to be a part of it. So in the last few weeks we’ve been having discussions and they’ve been really positive.”

Having already watched Olympic in action this season, stefanutto believes he has plenty to offer the club’s young squad of developing talents as a marquee player.

“I definitely see that as my role - to help the players. And not just the younger players, but all of the boys.”

“Whatever I’ve done in football I’ve done at the highest possible standards and I’ve always expected that from my teammates and myself.”

However, Stefanutto said he was well aware that the national second tier will provide a solid challenge despite his pedigree.

“As a Brisbane boy you keep an eye on the NPL and the Brisbane league; it’s exited me by how much it’s grown and initiatives like the FFA Cup have helped that enormously.

“I don’t underestimate the challenge ahead at all, it’s a difficult league and very competitive across the board; I need to be ready to perform,” he concluded.

Stefanutto has history with two of his new PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues rivals - making his professional debut for Brisbane Strikers in the former National Soccer League, while also playing an injury riddled season for North Queensland Fury (the pre-cursor to the current Northern Fury) in the Hyundai A-League prior to joining Roar.

If his marquee status is approved, Stefanutto will become only the second marquee player at a Queensland club in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues since the initiative commenced at the start of 2015.

Stefanutto's former Brisbane Roar teammate Matt Acton was the competition's first marquee player after also signing with Olympic last season.